Battery Day
National Battery Day is celebrated every year on February 18th to recognize the importance of batteries in our daily lives. It’s a great time to appreciate how batteries power everything from our smartphones to cars and even renewable energy storage. The day also raises awareness about battery recycling and proper disposal to reduce environmental impact.
Drink Wine Day
National Drink Wine Day is celebrated every year on February 18th—the same day as National Battery Day! It’s a day to appreciate the history, culture, and benefits of wine. Whether you prefer red, white, rosé, or sparkling, it’s a great excuse to enjoy a glass and learn more about winemaking. Many people celebrate by pairing wine with a nice meal, visiting a vineyard, or simply relaxing with their favorite bottle.
Cow Milked While Flying in an Airplane Day
Cow Milked While Flying in an Airplane Day is observed on February 18th to commemorate a truly bizarre but historic event. On February 18, 1930, a cow named Elm Farm Ollie became the first cow to fly in an airplane—and even more impressively, the first to be milked while airborne! This stunt was part of an agricultural exhibition to demonstrate the possibilities of transporting livestock by air. During the flight, Elm Farm Ollie reportedly produced milk, which was then parachuted down to spectators below.
February 18th has been an eventful day in history.
Historical Events:
1930 – Pluto Discovered
Clyde Tombaugh, an American astronomer, discovered Pluto at the Lowell Observatory in Arizona. Pluto was considered the ninth planet until its reclassification as a dwarf planet in 2006.
1930 – First Cow Milked in Flight
Elm Farm Ollie became the first cow to fly in an airplane and be milked mid-flight, demonstrating the potential for air transport of livestock.
1861 – Jefferson Davis Becomes President of the Confederacy
Jefferson Davis was sworn in as the first (and only) president of the Confederate States of America during the U.S. Civil War.
1977 – Space Shuttle Enterprise Makes First Test Flight
NASA’s Space Shuttle Enterprise was flown atop a Boeing 747 for its first “captive-inactive” test flight, a step toward the future of reusable spaceflight.
2001 – FBI Agent Robert Hanssen Arrested for Spying
FBI agent Robert Hanssen was arrested for selling U.S. secrets to Russia over a span of more than 20 years, making it one of the worst espionage cases in U.S. history.
Famous Birthdays:
1516 – Queen Mary I of England (aka “Bloody Mary”), known for her attempt to restore Catholicism in England.
1838 – Ernst Mach, Austrian physicist and philosopher, known for the Mach number in fluid dynamics.
1898 – Enzo Ferrari, Italian race car driver and founder of Ferrari.
1954 – John Travolta, American actor famous for “Grease,” “Pulp Fiction,” and “Saturday Night Fever.”
1968 – Molly Ringwald, American actress known for “The Breakfast Club” and other ‘80s classics.
Notable Deaths:
1546 – Martin Luther (b. 1483) – German theologian and leader of the Protestant Reformation, famous for his 95 Theses challenging the Catholic Church.
1564 – Michelangelo (b. 1475) – Italian Renaissance sculptor, painter, and architect, known for works like the Sistine Chapel ceiling, David, and Pieta.
1933 – James J. Corbett (b. 1866) – American boxer and world heavyweight champion, known for modernizing boxing techniques.
1967 – J. Robert Oppenheimer (b. 1904) – American physicist, known as the “father of the atomic bomb” for his leadership in the Manhattan Project.
2001 – Dale Earnhardt (b. 1951) – Legendary NASCAR driver, tragically killed in a crash during the Daytona 500.
2020 – Sy Sperling (b. 1941) – Founder of Hair Club for Men, famous for the tagline, “I’m not only the Hair Club president, but I’m also a client.”
